About Christine
Christine Hayes trained first as a thinker. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Western Washington University and then studied law at Gonzaga University School of Law. Those years set the stage for work that moves between courtrooms and counseling rooms. The combination of a liberal arts background and a law degree shows in the pragmatic way she handles cases.
Hayes began gaining courtroom experience soon after law school. In 2012 she worked as an associate at the Law Office of Clayton R. Dickinson and served as a legal intern at the YWCA Legal Center. The following year she took on two different roles: an associate position at Wheeler, Montgomery, Sleight & Boyd and a prosecuting lawyer role with the Battle Ground Municipal Court. Those early positions gave her exposure to trial procedure, client intake and the pressures of municipal court work.
In 2016 she joined McKinley Irvin as a lawyer. That move placed her at a firm known for handling family law matters, and she has been listed with McKinley Irvin’s Vancouver and Portland offices. Her resume reflects steady movement between private practice and public service. The variety of early assignments — from legal aid–style work at the YWCA Legal Center to municipal prosecution — shaped the practical approach she brings to family law matters today.
Hayes maintains memberships in a number of professional groups tied to family law and to the broader legal community in Washington. She is current in the Washington State Bar Association’s Family Law Section and holds membership in the Clark County Bar Association’s Family Law Section. She is also involved with the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association’s Family Law and Young Lawyers sections, and she belongs to Washington Women Lawyers. Those affiliations suggest regular contact with peers, ongoing education and local court familiarity.
Colleagues describe Hayes as methodical and direct in client meetings. She balances courtroom experience against negotiation and settlement work. Her background in municipal prosecution gives her a clear perspective on how judges and court staff operate, and her early legal aid work disciplines how she evaluates client needs against available remedies. She is licensed to practice in Washington and handles matters from McKinley Irvin’s Vancouver and Portland offices. Her current practice centers on family law matters in Washington state.
